Israel’s war team to meet Biden ahead of Rafah offensive, US fails to deter Netanyahu

A team of Israeli war cabinet members is reportedly scheduled to visit the US as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his intention to proceed with the attack on Gaza’s Rafah. Despite US President Joe Biden's opposition to the planned Rafah offensive, the team is expected to try to convince the White House for its approval.

As the world watches, Israel continues its devastating bombardment of Gaza, while neighbouring Arab countries and the UN Security Council have not taken any practical steps to halt the Israeli genocide of Gazans, relying instead on repeated vocal condemnations.

Now, the US is perceived as conceding to Netanyahu’s obstinate stance regarding his planned attack on Rafah. Global leaders, including the US, have failed to deter Netanyahu from his aggressive plans, instead appearing complicit with Israel and focusing on strategies to minimize civilian casualties.

Since Israel began its indiscriminate bombardment of Gaza, nearly 32,000 lives have been lost, mostly women and children, pushing the rest of the population into famine and leaving Gaza an open graveyard where dunes of debris from Israeli bombardments could be found.

Despite acknowledging Israel's military gains against Hamas, the US National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, emphasized the necessity for an integrated humanitarian and political approach to any military action.

Sullivan underscored Israel's obligation to address the imminent famine in northern Gaza, citing UN warnings of a humanitarian catastrophe. Samantha Power, head of the US Agency for International Development, called upon Israel to take immediate action to prevent further suffering.

Amidst concerns over civilian casualties and the exacerbation of the humanitarian crisis, President Biden dismissed arguments equating scrutiny of the Rafah offensive with undermining efforts against Hamas. Sullivan emphasized the need for substantive discussions and proposed alternatives to military action, urging Israel to send a delegation for comprehensive talks in Washington.

In response to Biden's call, Netanyahu agreed to send a team comprising military, intelligence, and humanitarian officials for discussions on Gaza. The meeting is slated to occur by the end of the week or early next week. Sullivan expressed confidence that Israel would delay the Rafah offensive pending these crucial discussions.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts persist in Doha, with Israel, Qatar, and Egypt negotiating a potential hostage deal. Sullivan indicated that if Hamas released elderly, sick, and female hostages promptly, a six-week ceasefire could be implemented immediately, offering respite to civilians in Gaza.

Furthermore, the US is fast-tracking plans to deploy a floating dock off the Gaza coast to facilitate aid delivery. Despite these efforts, aid agencies caution that the famine could grip Gaza before the dock is operational. Questions linger regarding the distribution of aid and the efficacy of sea routes in alleviating the crisis.